SOC 53-7081 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors — Philadelphia
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Philadelphia, PA comes to $59,730 a year, ahead of the national median of $49,690 by 20.2%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Philadelphia, PA comes to $59,730 a year, ahead of the national median of $49,690 by 20.2%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $43,150 and $63,960. The lowest tenth earn under $36,040, while the highest tenth earn more than $71,250.
The area has 2,610 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.95 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Chambersburg leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $59,380. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 390th of 713 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,040 | −27.5% |
| 25th | $43,150 | −13.2% |
| Median (50th) | $59,730 | +20.2% |
| 75th | $63,960 | +28.7% |
| 90th | $71,250 | +43.4% |
| Mean | $55,700 | +12.1% |
Other metro areas in Pennsylvania
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chambersburg | $59,380 | 110 | |
| 2 | Harrisburg | $58,680 | 140 | |
| 3 | Allentown | $51,610 | 480 | |
| 4 | Pittsburgh | $49,730 | 1,220 | |
| 5 | State College | $48,940 | 80 | |
| 6 | York | $47,040 | 150 | |
| 7 | Erie | $46,380 | 170 | |
| 8 | Scranton | $45,960 | 340 | |
| 9 | Lancaster | $45,540 | 300 | |
| 10 | Reading | $38,760 | 210 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Philadelphia run 2.4% below the national average, so the median of $59,730 goes as far as $61,199 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 23.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$59,730as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$61,199US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $59,730 a year, 20.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,040 to $71,250 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,610 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Chambersburg, at $59,380.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in Philadelphia, PA?
The median annual wage is $59,730, or $28.72 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $49,690, so pay in Philadelphia, PA is 20.2% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Philadelphia, PA earns more than $71,250 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,040 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Chambersburg, at $59,380 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,610 jobs in this occupation in Philadelphia, PA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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